Obasanjo, that is one name that evokes anger, pity, adulation or comic arguments among Nigerians depending on your own perception of the man. Indeed, Obasanjo is the man you love to hate, or you like to love, still depending on your perception of the man. I know that the man hates corruption to the bones, that is, where it involves others.
Love or hate him, this man is a force to reckon with. Baba is not a man you can just wish away. Don’t forget that he once accused Ibori of using state funds for the burial of his mama and Lucky Igbenedion for the birthday of his papa. Though I agreed with those who insisted that Obasanjo missed that joke on the Isama of Benin, what about Ibori, the one who is now in UK jail? Has history not vindicated Baba?
So when weeks ago, Obasanjo in his usually ludicrous manner accused the Assembly members of being crooks, I knew something is in the offing. Some of the Assembly members accused him of suffering from old age delinquency. The man may be old and still aging, he may be loquacious without thinking even once, but this old Baba surely makes his point and he has his source- a reliable source indeed. Like the chicken coming home to roost, the burble burst and today, Farouk Lawan is fighting hard to clear his name over the fuel subsidy probe scandal. I believe that the whole truth has not been placed in the public domain by either Farouk or Otedola. The fall of Lawan may sure have Obasanjo’s connection.
Think of this. Otedola is a son to Obasanjo. Otedola must have consulted before setting the trap for Farouk Lawan. And one of those he must have consulted is his business godfather- Obasanjo. So when the time to kill Ali Baba (Farouk Lawan) reached the optimal point, Obasanjo came out boldly to put it to the face of the legislators that they are crooks. Then Otedola followed up. And today Farouk Lawan is enmeshed in integrity crisis.
Don’t forget that a former Minister of Education, Professor Fabian Osuji who was accused of bribery- for budget scandal involving his ministry and some individuals told the nation in a rather shameless manner, that as far as the presidential system is being operated, where lobbying is the answer, such acts will remain the norm. In fact, the man did not see anything wrong in that scandal. Woo to presidential system of government! I have been made to understand that in a presidential system of government, lobbying and scandal are of the same family. What a family! And this is why the legislators have appetite for money- particularly those in foreign currencies, like the U.S Dolla, Pound Sterling and Euro- the leading currencies in the world!
Well, no one goes to Abuja for nothing. Remember the cerebral Chuba Okadigbo? What did he tell Nigerians as the president of the Senate? Chuba said that “we are not in Abuja to spread poverty”. In other words, legislators are not in Abuja to spread poverty. They are not there to show the world that Nigeria is a poor country. Therefore, they must take fat furniture allowances and sundry other allowances running into millions of naira. That is why lobbying and scandal will continue to strive. That is the only way the world would know that Nigeria is a rich country of great men and woman. Tufia! My grand dad would say “azi gba njo”.
Since the day he entered the Assembly, Farouk Lawan presented his image as that of a cute young man who is in the House for serious business. He warmed himself into the heart of Nigerians as one member who will stand on the side of the masses. That is why our confidence in him did not wane when he was appointed to head the fuel subsidy probe even until the report was presented and sent to the presidency.
Nigerians hailed him for a job well done and turned the focus on the executive whom we were told has no intention to implement the recommendations of the august panel. We were fooled! But could the executive be fighting back?
Just a way of diverting attention from the recommendations of the Farouk Lawanl led subsidy probe panel? I am happy that Nigerians have insisted that which ever way this scandal swings, the recommendations of the Farouk Lawan panel must remain sacrosanct.
The man at the eye of the storm at the moment, Farouk Lawan said he collected the bribe money only to nail Otedola. Otedola himself is saying he gave the bribe money in other to nail Lawan. Both men seem to be having the same mind set when one gave and the other collected. Only time will tell who has nailed the other.
By Chimezie Elemuo